Small miracles

What If I Told You... I Love You

Written and Directed by Stan Barber, based on characters developed
by Stan Barber and Dan DeRiancho
Bank Street Theatre
155 Bank Street (In Westbeth Center, between Washington &
West Sts.; 561-9133)
Non-union production (Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, through April
10)
Review by Doug DeVita

There has been a trend lately to hang a linear story on to a classic
cabaret performance and create, in effect, a mini-musical. While
not always successful, What If I told You... I Love You
was an engaging example of this new genre.

Written and directed by Stan Barber, based on characters developed
by Barber and Dan DeRiancho, What If I told You... I Love You
told the story of Danny, a gay man from New Jersey of Cuban/Irish
descent. With all of the roles performed by DeRiancho, Danny's
quest for love and acceptance was played out against a variety
of song styles from Broadway perennials by Sondheim, Bernstein
and Lloyd-Webber to standard pop and rock by Judy Collins and
Meatloaf, among others, as well as traditional Irish and Cuban
ballads.

Mr. DeRiancho has a winning personality and an absolutely gorgeous
voice that can adapt brilliantly to any style of song he chooses
to sing. He was easy and relaxed on stage, and established a wonderful
rapport with his audience as he played not only the various men
in his life but also his suburban Irish mother, Rita (in a spectacular
costume by Marlene Marlowe that not only captured this
woman's personality but acted as an indictment of suburbia as
well). Although his interpretation of the formidable Rita was
hilariously insightful and sharp, Mr. DeRiancho had some trouble
clearly differentiating between the male characters. His "Mr.
Perfect (not Mr. Right, but Mr. Perfect...)," a disco dancing
hunk named Luis Miguel, was a model of split-second timing as
he danced between the two characters, but it was hard to distinguish
the love of his life, Carlos, from his own personality despite
some visual clues utilizing a baseball cap. He also seemed to
be not as comfortable with the book scenes as he was with the
musical numbers. Perhaps that was because, while there were some
wonderful set pieces and clever directorial touches, at two and
half hours (with intermission), it sometimes seemed as if both
Barber and DeRiancho were struggling to pad the evening out to
full length (a comic riff on Colorado à la Joan Rivers,
while a funny and accurate impersonation of the comedienne, came
out of nowhere and seemed tacked on). But these reservations are
minor, for DeRiancho was never less than charming, and can sing
and interpret a song like few other performers out there. Whenever
he opened his mouth to sing, he and the show caught fire.

Mr. DeRiancho had terrific support from his musical director,
John Fischer (who managed to get an incredibly lush, fully
orchestrated sound from one electric keyboard), and the wonderful,
amazingly detailed lights and sound designed by Kevin Levis.
The costumes as well as the set (both uncredited, aside from the
aforementioned gown) were functional, being professional if not
particularly distinguished.

What If I Told You... I Love You could be an incredible
evening if it were pruned to a one-act, 90 minute show. As it
was, it was a very entertaining evening with a thoroughly delightful
performer, one audiences should see (and hear) more of. Box Score: